Van Dyke Gets Quick Start at Gulfstream

Sunday, June 9, 2024 | 6:45 pm

Ride a Comet, with Drayden Van Dyke up, wins the G2 Del Mar Derby for trainer Mark Casse, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, CA 9.02.2018.

Drayden Van Dyke was quick out of the gate in his first weekend of riding at Gulfstream Park, finding the winner's circle on five of nine mounts, all of whom are trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.

The 29-year-old jockey, who switched his tack from Santa Anita for a 30-day trial run at Gulfstream, won aboard his only mount Friday before winning on two of four mounts Saturday. Sunday, he won with Novo Sol in the second race and with Practically Dark in the eighth.

Van Dyke earned the Eclipse Award as the country's leading apprentice jockey in 2014. Among his 67 graded-stakes victories, he rode Stormy Liberal to victory in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. He also notched Grade I wins in the 2017 GI Malibu S. and 2018 GI Triple Bend S. aboard City of Light.